Iran has executed two men convicted of allegedly spying for Israel, marking the latest chapter in the country’s widening crackdown on individuals accused of collaborating with foreign intelligence agencies.
Iran’s judiciary announced on Monday that the two men, Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat, were executed after being found guilty of espionage and working with Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service.
The executions come as Tehran continues an aggressive campaign against suspected spies and dissidents following months of heightened conflict with Israel and the United States.
Iran Says Convicts Passed Military Secrets To Mossad
According to Mizan, the official media platform of Iran’s judiciary, the two men were accused of transmitting the locations of strategic military and security installations to Israeli intelligence operatives.
The judiciary alleged that the information supplied by the pair enabled Israel’s intelligence services to target sensitive Iranian facilities during the recent conflict.
“Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat were hanged this morning for transmitting the coordinates of sensitive military and security sites to Mossad agents,” Mizan said.
Authorities further claimed the duo collaborated directly with what Iran describes as the “Zionist regime” by providing intelligence considered critical to Israeli military operations.
Officials, however, did not disclose when the suspects were arrested, how long they had been detained or when their trial took place before the death sentences were carried out.
Executions Rise As Security Crackdown Deepens
The latest hangings come amid a sharp increase in executions across Iran since the outbreak of war with Israel and the United States in February.
Following the conflict, Iranian authorities have intensified operations against individuals suspected of espionage, alleging that foreign intelligence networks have attempted to infiltrate the country’s military and security institutions.
Many of those executed in recent months have been convicted on charges related to spying, sabotage or collaboration with Israel.
The Iranian government insists the measures are necessary to protect national security at a time of heightened regional tensions.
Rights Groups Raise Alarm
Human rights organisations, however, have repeatedly condemned Iran’s growing use of capital punishment, arguing that the country continues to carry out executions at one of the highest rates in the world.
According to international rights monitors, Iran ranks second only to China in the number of executions carried out annually.
Data released by Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based organisation, alongside Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), showed that Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people last year—the country’s highest annual figure since 1989.
The organisations described the trend as deeply alarming, warning that capital punishment is increasingly being used in politically sensitive cases.
Amnesty International Condemns Fresh Executions
The latest executions also come days after Amnesty International criticised what it described as an escalating use of the death penalty in Iran.
The rights group condemned the execution of two other men convicted of participating in anti-government protests during the winter, warning that Iranian authorities appear to be expanding the use of capital punishment beyond ordinary criminal cases.
Amnesty has repeatedly called on Tehran to halt executions linked to political unrest and alleged national security offences, arguing that many defendants do not receive fair trials.
A Nation Balancing Security And International Pressure
For Iranian authorities, the executions represent what they describe as decisive action against threats to national security.
For international rights organisations, however, they reinforce growing concerns over the country’s increasing reliance on the death penalty amid political instability and regional conflict.
As tensions between Iran, Israel and the wider international community continue to simmer, the divide between Tehran’s security policies and global human rights concerns appears set to deepen even further.